Within the scope of the “Cataract Project” initiated in cooperation with the Associations of the Turkish Islamic Union of Religious Affairs (DITIB) and Turkiye Diyanet Foundation (TDV), patients in Africa are operated on and nursed back to health.
DITIB and TDV, which conduct Ramadan aid and water well opening activities abroad, also sustain needy people in Africa in terms of health.
In this context, the teams that have already treated cataract patients in many countries so far with the project started in 2018, this year, 500 people in Niger regained their health with surgeries.
The volunteer team of the DITIB North Rhine-Westphalia Essen State Union, which carries out its work in the Zinder region of Niger as part of Ramadan activities, stood by the needy as a volunteer health workers during the surgery of 500 people.
“We have shared their joy by coming thousands of kilometers away” Hakki Gür, Attache for Religious Services at the Consulate General in Essen, Germany, said that the extremely hot geography has caused people to lose their eyes after a certain time.
Expressing that the charitable people are very interested in the campaign, Gür noted that there is a large audience who would like to support it.
Gür stated that there is a great need for cataracts in Niger and that they continue to take the records of the applicants and continued as follows:
“When we return to Germany, we will work with our associations to meet this need. I believe other associations and regions in Germany will support this campaign. Seeing the happiness on the faces of the people who had surgery here is another magnificence because now they will be able to look at the world, meet their needs, and read the Holy Quran.”
“These people can now afford their own needs,” Gür said, thanking the authorities who supported them and the occupation officials. We became partners by coming thousands of miles to their joy. First of all, they can now be able to worship. The brightness in their eyes, which have their health, takes away our fatigue.” he made his comments.
The President of the Essen Regional Union of the DITIB German Representative Fahrettin Alptekin said that the work will continue throughout Ramadan in 35 different regions.
Alptekin explained that 3,000 Ramadan packages were donated throughout Niger. “Not only the Ramadan food package, but we also perform cataract surgeries. This year it’s 500, we’re planning 700 surgeries. We are experiencing the blessing of Ramadan, attending the openings of the water wells of the donors. It is very nice to be able to get our donors’ help here. We are profiting for Ramadan.” “he said.
“I can now earn my bread by my own labor”
Abubakr Musa, who had cataract surgery, stated that his strength could come back and work after he started to see, and said, “I will pray for you. I can make a living with my efforts. I hope this campaign will continue,” he said.
